Engine.



J. H. RICHARDSON.

ENGINE.

APPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 24, 1913.

Patenged Mar. 17, 1914.

Z9. gag 76 ineonso.

JOHN HARISON RICHARDSON, SHUBERT, NEBRASKA.

EN GIN E.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN H. RICHARD- SON, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Shubert, in the countyof Richardson and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in engines, and has for its object toprovide an engine for utilizing the expansive force of fluids, wherein aseries of pistons is provided the central piston moving between thelateral pistons and in opposite direction to the said pistons, andcoiiperating in alternation with the said pistons as an abutment againstwhich the motive fluid may react.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of the improved engine, andFig. 2 is a longitudinal horizontal section of the engine.

The present embodiment of the invention comprises a cylinder consistingoftwo portions 1 and 1 offset laterally with respect to each other, butcommunicating attheir meeting ends. Pistons 2 and 3 are arranged withinthe portion 1 of the cylinder, and the piston 2 is provided with a crosspin 4, to which is connected the inner end of a connecting or piston rod5, the said rod having a bearing 6, which is ournaled on the cross pin.The piston 3 is provided with a central opening through which is passedone end of a piston or connectingrod 7, and a nut S is threaded on tothe rod on the opposite side of the piston from the body of the rod, thenut being received within a counterbored portion 9 of the piston. Thepiston 3 is a movable piston, moving from the posi tion shown in F 1toward the portion 1 of the cylinder, and the said piston acts as anabutment against which the motive fluid may react, and the said fluid isintroduced between the pistons 2 and 3, in any suitable manner.

When an explosive compound is the motive fluid used, a suitable ignitingdevice, as for instance, a spark plug ,10, is arranged between thepistons 2 and 3.. A piston 11 is arranged within the portion 1 of thecylinder, and a piston or connecting rod 12 is connected with the saidpiston, the rod passing through a central opening in the piston.

A nut 13 is threaded on to the rod, on the inner side of the piston, thesaid nut being received in a recess 14 of the piston. The rod 7 passesthrough the piston 11, extend- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 24, 1913.

. piston,

Patented Mar. is. rare. Serial No. 791,533.

ing through an eccentric opening 15 in the and on the outer face of thethe opening is enlarged for engagement by a packing nut 16. The oppositeends of the cylinder 11 are open as shown, and a crank shaft 17 isarranged transverse to the cylinder at the end adjacent to the portion 1The said shaft is journaled in suitable bearings, and a fly wheel 18 issecured thereto intermediate the ends of the shaft. The shaft isprovided with cranks 19 and 20, for connection with the pistons 3 and11. At one end the said shaft is provided with a miter or bevel gear 21,which meshes with a similar gear 22, on a shaft 23, journaled parallelwith the aXis of the cylinder 11 At the opposite end of the cylinder,the shaft 23 is provided with a miter or bevel gear 24L, which mesheswith a similar said piston,

gear 25, on a shaft 26, journaled parallel with the crank shaft at theopposite end of the cylinder and provided with a crank 27 for connectionwith the piston 2, by means of the rod 5. The rods 7 and 12 areconnected with cross heads 28 and 29 respectively, the said heads movingin suitable guides, and connecting rods 30 and 31 connect the crossheads with the cranks 19 and 20 of the crank shaft. The piston 3 alsoacts as an abutment for cotiperating with the piston 11, and when anexplosive compound is the motive fluid, a suitable igniting device, asfor instance, a spark plug 32 is arranged at the junction of theportions 1 and 1 of the cylinder. The crank shaft 16 is j ournaled inbearings 33, and the shaft 26 is journaled in bearings 34, the saidshafts being parallel as before stated, and being connected by means ofthe shaft 23, which is also journaled in suitable bearings 35.

The operation of the improved device is as follows In the position ofthe parts shown in Fig. 1, a charge has been compressed be tween thepiston 2 and the piston 3, and the said charge when ignited will drivethe piston 2 outward in a manner to, rotate the shaft 26. The piston 3will also be moved toward the crank shaft- 17 and through the rod 7 andthe connecting rod 30, the movement of the piston will tend to rotatethe crank shaft. It will be noticed that the crank shafts 19 and 20 areoppositely arranged and that the pistons 3 and 11 will move in oppositedirections. When the piston 3 reaches the end of its travel toward anyof the three shafts.

Since the crank shafts 16 and'26 are connected by the shaft 25 they willrotate -together, and the power may be taken from;

It will be evident from an inspection of: Fig. 2, that the central andlateral pistons'E are connected together in such manner that, thelateral pistons at all tilnes move in thel same direction and in theopposite direction to-the central piston. It will be noted that: thecranksQO and 27 are arranged in the) same manner, while the'crank 19 isexactly opposite to the two said-cranks.

The motive fluid maybe of any character capable ofexpansion, as forinstance, steam,

.or an explosive compound.

I claim 7 An engine comprising a cylinder consisting of portions ofl'setlaterally at their meeting ends and having their axes parallel, one ofthe said portions being of greater length than the other, pistons inthesaid longer portion and a piston in the shorter portion, a rodconnected with the central piston, a rod connected with each of thelateral pistons and extending in opposite directions, 1 the rod of thecentral piston passing through the piston in the smaller portion, acrank 35 shaft at the outer end of each of the said portions, aconnecting shaft arranged longitudinally of the cylinders and having adriving connection at each end with the ad-' jacent crankshaft, thecrank shafts having 4 cranks for connection with the adjacent pistonrods.

JOHNHABISONRIGHARDSONL Witnesses: V

C. M. HEINZELMAN, E T. BowERs.

floplorot thirpatent may be obtained forfive cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of I'atentz.

. Washington, D. C.

